Corey Davis went from savior to spared from the chopping block in the span of a quick Jets’ wide receiver overhaul.
Two years ago, when the Jets were desperate to upgrade over Breshad Perriman and Jamison Crowder, Davis signed a three-year, $37.5 million free-agent contract to be their unquestioned No. 1 target.
But continued additions — drafting Garrett Wilson in 2022 and signing Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Mecole Hardman this offseason — plus Davis’ non-guaranteed $10.5 million salary left his roster spot in jeopardy.
And yet there was Davis catching a pass in the end zone Saturday.
There he was again on a go-route Sunday as Aaron Rodgers uncorked a deep ball.
“All of that was out of my control,” Davis said. “It was kind of a long offseason. There was a point where there was uncertainty. Obviously with all the moves going on, it’s hard not to think that. It’s still a business, but I’m happy to be here. Happy they kept me.”
Head coach Robert Saleh’s behind-the-scenes message through all the speculation was “not to worry, it’s all going to work out for the better,” Davis said.
There is a school of thought that the 6-foot-3 Davis might not be totally in the clear yet because he and the 6-foot-5 Lazard offer overlapping skill sets as physical receivers.
But Davis, who skipped most voluntary OTAs in the spring, isn’t relying on competition for motivation when he already has plenty.
“That fire is never not going anywhere, whether I’m the [No.] 1, 2 or 3,” Davis said. “We’ve got a lot of talent in that room — a lot of dudes who bring different stuff to the table. I’m just trying to play my role as best I can and lead these young boys the best I can.”
Davis has at least one new advocate in the Jets’ building: Pass-game coordinator Todd Downing was the Titans’ tight ends coach in 2020, when Davis set all his career highs — 65 catches for 984 yards and five touchdowns with Tennessee — leading into his free agency.
“Super Bowl is always the goal and that never changes no matter who is in here,” Davis said. “We’ve got a great chance now. We’ve got a lot of talent. It’s a matter of putting it all together now.”
Like everyone other than the two former Packers, Lazard and Cobb, Davis is trying to build trust with Rodgers and take advantage of an “awesome” opportunity by learning his hand-signal audibles at the line of scrimmage and securing passes thrown into tight windows.
“Allen and Randall have that rapport with Aaron, so we’ve got to catch up,” Davis said. “There are a lot of different signals and a lot of things he can do. We’re getting there. It’s going to be really beneficial for us once we all get that down, and we’re able to play fast.”
Until now, the best in-his-prime quarterback that Davis ever played with was Ryan Tannehill.
With all due respect, playing with a four-time MVP is different.
“It’s like having another coach out there, especially in the team meeting rooms,” Davis said. “Nothing is too small for him to coach. Ball security, our stance, he’s always getting us right. He is able to dissect it a lot quicker than most and see things that others may not see.”
When Davis boxed out cornerback D.J. Reed to catch a side-arm floating two-point conversion pass from Rodgers during a red-zone period, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett ran downfield for a chest-bump celebration.
Davis looked like the kind of red-zone threat that the Jets hoped for but haven’t yet gotten as he totaled 66 catches for 1,028 yards and six touchdowns through 22 games of quarterback dysfunction.
“Credit to Corey,” Saleh said, “using his big body to shield off D.J. to bring the ball down to catch it.”
Added Davis, “Aaron put it where only I can get it, no doubt.”
And, so, less doubt than before that Davis has a place on these Jets.
